Our Experts

Observation of Uroplatus in Madagascar, 2011

Carrying business operations in Strictly Reptile’s Office (Florida, U.S.)

With Buncho Saetanto in Indonesia, 1999

In Tajikistan, 2008

In his Office in BION Terrarium Center, Kiev

In 1985 graduated from the Nature and geography Department of the Kiev Pedagogical Institute.

From 1985 till 1987 – was in the army.

From 1987 till 1989 worked as a teacher of biology and geography in the secondary school.

From 1989 till 2000 he organised public exhibition of exotic reptiles in Kiev.

In 1994 Dmitri founded BION Terrarium Center (BION), located in Kiev, the Ukraine. Today BION is one of the largest European companies reptiles business operations. BION collaborates with experts on herpetoculture, zoo’s and breeders all over the world.

As the matter of fact he visited many reptile’s shows and business operations all over the world. Dmitri organized business and field trips to the countries of Middle Central Asia and Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Madagascar, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Salvador, Peru.

From 2002 till 2007 he was the publisher and chief editor of “EKZO” – an international magazine оn wild nature. He is a member of the Union of journalists of the Ukraine.

In 2007 Dmitri established “Live Exotic” – the branch of BION which specializes on promotion of exotic reptiles and merchandises for reptiles in the Ukraine and in the countries of the former Soviet Union. He is actively involved in popularization of terrarium-keeping (herpetoculture) as a hobby and branch of science.

In November 2010, in cooperation with Sergei Ryabov, Dmitri Tkachev established on BION’s base the International Reptiles’ Breeding and Research Center (IRBRC BION).

He is married and has a son.

PhD defense in Zoological Institute (Saint-Petersburg, 2006).

Nikolai Orlov – Doctor Honoris Causa, Ph.D., Goteborg University, Sweden, 2002

During field work in Caucasus

During field work in Mongolia

During field work in Vietnam, May-June 1997 together with MVZ, University of California, Berkeley and National Geographic Society

Before the next field trip in China (Beijing, 2006).

With wife – Natalia Ananjeva

Degrees:

Diploma in Biology (=Ms. D. in Zoology), 1984, Leningrad State Pedagogical University

Doctor Honoris Causa, Ph.D., 2002, Goteborg University, Sweden.

Ph.D. in Zoology, 2006. Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.

Professor (Zoology), 2008, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg

Research interests:

Amphibians and reptiles of Palearctic and Oriental Asia regions: biodiversity, biogeography, ecology, taxonomy, phylogeny, conservation, captive breeding.

Academic positions:

1970-1978 Curator of amphibians and reptiles, terrarium, Leningrad State Zoo;

1978-1984 collection manager, Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences, Leningrad;

1984-till present research scientist, senior research scientist. Curator of Reptiles, Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg

Professional membership:

Member of Nikolsky's Herpetological Society under the Russian Academy of Sciences;

Member of Society of Asiatic Herpetological Research;

Member of European Herpetological Society;

Member of "Breeding and Conservation Group" under Nikolsky's Herpetological Society;

Member of Editorial Board of "Russian Journal of Herpetology"

Member of Editorial Board of "Asiatic Herpetological Research"

Honorary Professor of Haikou University, Hainan, China –2000

Publications:

About 205 publications including 9 monographs.

Field research:

More than 70 field trips to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbajan, Northern Caucasus, Ukraine, Moldavia, Siberia, Far East of Russia, Kuril islands, Transbaikal region, Mongolia (four full seasons).

Among them about 50 field trips to Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, India and Indonesia; among them projects in cooperation with Goteborg University, Sweden, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada; Field Museum of Nat. History, Chicago, USA; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Univ. of California, Berkeley. Specially important cooperation with Institute of Zoology and Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnamese Academy of Sciences and Technologies.

Field trip to Vietnam in May-June 1997 together with MVZ, University of California, Berkeley and National Geographic Society (see: M.McRae. Tam Dao-Vietnam's Sanctuary Under Siege in Journal of National Geographic Society, vol.195, NO.6, June 1999: 84-97).

Research projects:

Methods of captive breeding of rare and endangered species of amphibians and reptiles (1970-1978; 1985- to present);

Herpetological Research of Far East fauna (1974-1982);

Taxonomy, Biogeography and Ecology of viperid and colubrid snakes of the fauna of Caucasus, Middle Asia and Far East (1978-to present);

Herpetological Research of Mongolia fauna (1982-1989);

Herpetological Research of the Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (1987-to present)

Study of biodiversity of Oriental herpetofauna (2001-to present), supported by grants of Russian Foundation of Basic Research

Fellowships:

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, California University at Berkeley (October-November 1990) - Visiting Scholar, examination of MVZ collections of Palearctic snakes;

Zoological Institute, University of Goteborg, Sweden (March 1991) - Visiting Reserch Fellow, joint work on Caucasian Vipera project;

Field Museum of Natural History, Robert Bass Visiting Scientist Fund (November 1995, January-February 2004).

Examination of collections of amphibians and reptiles of Vietnam;

Zoological Museum of Hamburg University, Germany (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). Grants of DFG. Study of amphibians and reptiles of South and South-East Asia;

Scientific Academic Exchange with Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chengdu Institute of Biology, Kunming Institute of Zoology). 2001, 2002, 2006-2011)

MNHN, invited professor (October 2004, 2005) (Paris, France).

Family status:

Married and has a son.

Happy Sergei with new born Oreocryptophis porphyraceus

Field work in the Tula region, 1988

During the night excursion in Vietnam, 2008

Collecting Elaphe dione with Andrei Tupikov in the vicinity of Kramatorsk (Ukraine), 30.09.2011

Participating in the First Sino-Russian herpetological seminar in Chengdu, China, 2007

Degrees:

Graduated from the Biological Faculty of the Tula State Pedagogical Institute in 1984;

Research interests:

Ecology, reproductive biology and taxonomy of reptiles and amphibians of Asia and Europe;

Developing of methods for adaptation and reproduction of rare reptile and amphibian species, especially from endangered regions in captivity for further conservation and reintroduction;

Taxonomy and distribution of some Lepidoptera in Vietnam.

Positions:

1984-1987 – the Head of the Department of Nature of the Tula Zoological Museum;

In 1987 founded a Tula Exotarium – the only Zoo specialized on reptiles in Russia.

From 1987 till October 2011 – was a Director of the Tula Exotarium, the Basic Laboratory of Herpetological Investigations of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Center on study, breeding and conservation of reptiles;

From November 2011 till present – Chief, International Reptile’s Breeding & Research Center BION (IRBRC)

Professional membership: Member of Nikolsky's Herpetological Society under the Russian Academy of Sciences; Member of Euro-Asiatic Regional Association of Zoo’s and Aquarium’s;

During many years collaborating with colleagues from 24 countries.

Publications: More than 100 scientific articles and co-author of 4 books.

Field research:

Participant and organizer of 20 international expeditions in Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia. Also works in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, northern Caucasus, Crimea, Volga region, Russian Far East, Kunashir (Kuril Islands) and Tula region. Scientific reports on the International Herpetological conferences in Germany, USA, China, Laos, Russia.

Research projects:

Reproductive biology and taxonomy of reptiles according to the joint programs with the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. More than 35 species of the world herpetofauna were bred for the first time under captive conditions.

Family status: Has the bride

Sergij with Hypsilurus in his Lab

Enjoying the Draco

In 1994 has graduated from the Kharkov State University, School of Biology specialization "Zoology and Ecology" and School of Economy, specialization "Statistics".

Then, together with A.M. Rudik and D.G. Kovrajskij, established Biodiversity Laboratory at Kharkov State University where they studied aspects of reptiles’ zooculture.

From 1998 he started to work independently on the project of reproducing some lizard species in a bulk and developing reproductive techniques for rare species of reptiles.

As the matter of fact he is the most successful chamaeleon’s breeder (up to 10 species) in the Former Soviet Union.

Sergij is owner of private lizard’s breeding center in Kharkov, Ukraine.

He took apart in a number of expeditions to various regions of Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan), South East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia) and Madagascar.

In Vietnam (Cao Bang, 2010)

Before the night excursion in Vietnam with Nikolay Orlov and vietnamese colleagues (Kon Tum, 2006).

On the Kuku-Nor lake with Nikolay Orlov and chinese colleagues (China, Qinghai, 2006).

In Prof. Fu’s molecular Lab (Guelph, Canada, 2008).

In Iran with close friend and colleague Roman Nazarov (2008).

Making movie in Islamic Republic of Iran (2008).

The winner of the First Russian Show of Terrarium Design (Saint Petersburg, 2010).

Degrees:

1998-2003, student, Department of Zoology, Biological Faculty, Rostov State University. 2003-MSc in Biology (MS thesis: “Morphological variability of  the steppe runner Eremias arguta (Pallas, 1773)”

From 2003 – PhD student, Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Research interests:

Systematics and population ecology of desert lizards, agamas (Agaminae) in particular, especially Phrynocephalus. Morphological and molecular variability, ageing (skeletochronology), breeding in captivity. Middle Eastern herpetofauna.

Academic positions:

PhD student (2003-2007), collection manager (2007-2008), junior scientist (2008-till present) at Department of Herpetology and Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Professional membership:

Member of Nikolsky's Herpetological Society under the Russian Academy of Sciences

Staff Editor of the Russian-language herpetological journal – Sovremennaya Gerpetologiya (Current Studies in Herpetology)

Publications:

About 15 publications

Field research:

Studying desert lizards: UAE (1996), Kalmykia (2001-2002, 2005-2006), Daghestan (2002, 2005), Volgograd region (2005), Astrakhan region (2006, 2010), China: Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai (2006), Azerbaijan, Naxcivan (2007, 2010), Iran (2008), China: Xinjiang (2009), Tuva (2009), Jordan and Syria (2009), China: Inner Mongolia (2010).

Studying tropical reptiles and amphibians in Vietnam: Kon Tum (2006); Dak Lak, Bai Tu Long, Phu Tho, Hoa Binh (2009); Cao Bang, Ha Giang and Than Hoa (2010).

Other places of field work in southern Russia and northern Caucasus: Rostov region, Tula region, Saratov region, Krasnodar region, Adygeya.

Participating in research projects (supported by Russian Foundation for Basic research):

Phylogeny and Biogeography of Phrynocephalus (2005-2007);

Phylogeny and Biogeography of Agamidae lizards – molecular and morphological approach (2005-2007);

Participating in Russian-Chinese herpetological meetings (2007, 2009);

Biodiversity of herpetofauna and fauna of small mammals of Vietnam (2007-2008);

Scientific molecular work on Phrynocephalus in Prof. Fu’s Lab, University of Guelph, Canada (2008);

Complex expedition for study morphological and genetic polymorphism of amphibians, reptiles and fishes of Siberia (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011);

Morphogenesis, phylogeny and speciation in Iguanomorpha and Gekkonomorpha – molecular and morphological approach (2009-2011);

Taxonomic study of Oriental amphibians (Anura: Ranidae and Rhacophoridae) (2009-2010);

Scientific work on Phrynocephalus in Zoological museum of Moscow State University (2010);

Biodiversity and phylogeny of Central Asian Lacertidae (Eremias) (2010-2011);

Agamidae lizards as model group for understanding origin and colonization of north African and Arabian deserts (2011-2012);

Other activities:

Popularization of reptiles and terrarium keeping, author of several popular scientific Internet-articles. The winner of the First Russian Show of Terrarium Design (2010), one of the judges on Second Russian Show of Terrarium Design (2011).

Family status:

Not married, but has a bride.

In Alashan desert (China, Inner Mongolia, 2010).

Carrying next expedition in Islamic Republic of Iran (2008).

Preparing specimens in Vietnam (Kon Tum, 2006).

Before the night excursion in Vietnam with Nikolay Orlov (Kon Tum, 2006).

Presentation on the Middle Eastern biodiversity meeting (Jordan, Aqaba, 2008).

Degrees:

Diploma in Biology (=Ms. D. in Zoology), 2003, Moscow State University

Ms. thesis: “Morphological, acoustic and breeding analyses of two similar species Cyrtopodion russowii (Strauch, 1887) and Cyrtopodion fedchenkoi (Strauch, 1887).”

From 2003 – PhD student, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Research interests:

Intraspecific systematic, ecological morphs of geckos, acoustic, history of studied species, paleozoology, study of museum’s collection. Successful reptile’s adaptation, keeping and breeding in laboratory; study of reptile’s diseases.

Academic positions:

Collection manager and curator of gekkonidae colletion in the Herpetology Department Zoological Museum of Moscow State University.

Professional membership:

Member of Nikolsky's Herpetological Society under the Russian Academy of Sciences;

Publications:

About 20 publications

Field research:

Collecting of scientific material and field studies of ecology and behavior of reptiles in Central Asia during the summer-autumn 1999-2011. Expeditions to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Mongolia, Vietnam and China.

Participating in research projects (supported by Russian Foundation for Basic research):

Participating in Russian-Chinese herpetological meeting (2007);

Participating in Middle Eastern biodiversity meeting (2008);

Complex expedition for study morphological and genetic polymorphism of amphibians, reptiles and fishes of Siberia (2008);

Biodiversity and conservation of tree frogs Rhacophoridae and Hylidae in tropical and subtropical forests eastern and south-eastern Asia (2008-2010);

Morphogenesis, phylogeny and speciation in Iguanomorpha and Gekkonomorpha – molecular and morphological approach (2009-2011);

Scientific work on Gekkonidae in Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2010);

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Alethinophidia snakes of eastern Asia – morphological and molecular approach (2011-2013);

Agamidae lizards as model group for understanding origin and colonization of north African and Arabian deserts (2011-2012);

Other activities:

Established scientific exhibition of reptiles in Zoological Museum of Moscow State University http://zmmu.msu.ru/exposition.htm

Family status:

Married and has two sons.